Thread: Buffing in limit holdem

using this strategy to bluff your opponent. example. You are in position in a three-handed pot with J-10. This time the flop comes down A-3-7 with a flush draw and you have caught absolutely nothing!

In a raised pot, you have to be careful here as more than likely one of your opponents has the Ace. However you should still be able to execute this move against players who have shown the propensity to fold.

In this instance you should raise the flop to your opponents continuation bet. This bet could be an Ace or it could be a lower pair testing the waters to see if you have the Ace. In any case the raise will show the other players in the hand that you have something to dance with.

If you are three-bet then you should fold as this player is extremely unlikely to go for any kind of buffing at this stage. They are representing a very strong hand or a very strong draw and want you to take notice.

In the instance where the second opponent stays in the hand, you need to be aware that with the flush draw on the board, they might have that draw. If the flush comes down on the turn and the hand is checked around to you, then you should bet if you believe that you can represent the flush. If not then you should check behind. It will be easy to tell if the third player in the hand had been going after a check raise by his disappointment at your check. He will quickly bet the river as if he missed a bet on the turn and you can fold your “nothing hand”. A failed bluff.

If the hand is heads-up on the turn, now you can continue the ruse by representing the flush if it comes down on the turn. If not then you can use your position to check and fold the river if no draw comes down. Keep in mind though, that if your opponent doesn’t have the Ace or the draw, a bet on the turn or river may win the pot.

Using the raise on the flop out of position, works in much the same way, except that if your check raise on the flop doesn’t induce a check behind you on the turn then you might have to seriously consider relinquishing the bluff attempt.

If the draw comes down on the turn or river and your opponents show genuine fear or disgust at that draw card, then you can represent the draw by betting. Bluff success!

In my view this is a lot different for how a bluff works in No-Limit games, where flat-calling a flop bet is common in getting your opponent to think that you might have a strong hand and are trapping. In Limit Hold’em, being able to raise earlier in the hand with strong draws is more common when trying to represent strength and therefore just calling a player down and raising the river will not get the desired fold. Your opponent will be confused and just call in default.

There are other ways to bluff in Limit Hold’em that involve calling and leading out into your opponents, depending on your position.

Let me know your thoughts on other ways to bluff in Limit games and which ones have you found to be most successful.